Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF PRACTICE OF PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY AMONG ORAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN CHENNAI – A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY

*Dr. Janak Harish Kumar, Dr. A. Leena Selvamary, MDS, Dr. M. B. Aswath Narayanan, B.Sc., MDS, Dr. S. G. Ramesh Kumar, MDS and Dr. A. Sujatha, MDS

Abstract

Introduction: Oral diseases continue to be one of the major problems in our society. Most of the oral diseases such as Dental caries, Periodontal disease, Malocclusion and Oral cancer have effects which are generally irreversible, yet they are mostly preventable. Despite this most of the dental services currently focus on the treatment of the existing disease. This study aims to assess the practice of Preventive Dentistry among Dental Practitioners in Chennai city. Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire survey was designed to assess the practice of Preventive Dentistry among the Dental Practitioners of Chennai city selected by stratified random sampling. Chennai corporation was divided into 15 zones and from each zone 6 Dental Practitioners were randomly selected arriving at a total sample size of 90. A pretested validated questionnaire was self-administered, and the results were analysed using SPS version 22. Results: On assessment of what lacked in practicing Preventive Dentistry, it revealed most of the dentists rarely provided diet counselling, educated regarding flossing, practiced topical fluoride application, applied pit and fissure sealants, educated regarding safe water source, educated regarding timetable of shedding, educated regarding space maintainers, or educated regarding pre-orthodontic trainers. The results showed that 22.2% Dental Practitioners had a below average practice of Preventive Dentistry. Conclusion: Preventive Dentistry has long been incorporated into routine practice and this study highlights that still there is lacunae that exist in its practice even though there is sound knowledge of the subject among the Dental Practitioners.

Keywords: Preventive Dentistry, Health Education, Oral Hygiene, Pit and fissure sealants.